The Cavalier is a fun car to drive, one that enjoys being tossed around. Its light weight adds to the fun. The front suspension uses McPherson struts and coil springs. In the rear, trailing tubular control arms locate wheels along with a twist beam axle. The suspension is taut and gives the driver a good feel for the road, yet the Cavalier RS handles road bumps with aplomb. Not untypical of compact cars, the higher the speeds the more noticeable the bumps become.The 2.2-liter, inline-4 produces 115 horsepower and 135 foot-pounds of torque, which are not necessarily numbers to brag about when compared to the more powerful engines offered in the sport categories of other compacts. With a low first gear, the 5-speed gearbox does not offer comparable close ratios, either. But they're close enough. Combined with sequential fuel injection, overhead valves, hydraulic lifters and roller cams, the drivetrain encourages high revving and quick getaways.
The engine tends to be heard in compacts. In the case of the Cavalier, the noise level was acceptable, and, perhaps more important, the little four-banger sounds sweet.